Like home run binges? Thank global warming

+ latest jobs numbers point to 'growth recession' US Edition - Today's top story: MLB home run counts are rising – and global warming is playing a role [View in browser]( US Edition | 8 April 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Major League Baseball season is in full swing, and the home runs are sending fans into [cheering frenzies]( in the stands. With every crack of the bat, high-speed cameras are capturing the vital signs of the game: How fast is the ball going? What’s the launch angle? The stats aren’t just fun – they’re also a window into the forces that have been pumping up MLB’s home run numbers for decades. Climate scientists Chris Callahan and Justin Mankin looked back at 100,000 games and came to a pretty stunning conclusion: The stats show that global warming [is leading to more home runs](. Stacy Morford Environment + Climate Editor Another homer off the bat of Aaron Judge. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill [MLB home run counts are rising – and global warming is playing a role]( Christopher W. Callahan, Dartmouth College; Justin S. Mankin, Dartmouth College Scientists analyzed 100,000 baseball games, from the days of Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays to Aaron Judge. Here’s what they learned about the climate’s growing role. Inching toward a recession .. but what kind? Eskay Lim/EyeEm via Getty Images [Jobs report hints that Fed policy is paying off – and that a ‘growth recession’ awaits]( Christopher Decker, University of Nebraska Omaha The Fed’s campaign of rate hikes is showing more signs of having the intended effect of slowing the economy – but that may be bad news for those who lose their jobs or have a harder time finding one. Your genes determine the look of your navel. Mike Kemp/Tetra images via Getty Images [Innies, outies and omphalophobia: 7 navel-gazing questions about belly buttons answered]( Sarah Leupen, University of Maryland, Baltimore County All mammals who get nutrients from their parent via a placenta before birth are left with a belly button. It’s a visual reminder of this original connection. - [From goddesses and rabbits to theology and ‘Superstar’: 4 essential reads on Easter’s surprisingly complicated history]( Molly Jackson, The Conversation Like Halloween and Christmas, today’s Easter traditions are a blend of Christian and non-Christian influences. - [I tried to pay my taxes in cash – here’s what happened, and why the IRS should make it easier to do so]( Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University As the US increasingly becomes a cashless society, it’s getting harder to use currency to pay for things – including taxes. One fearless economist gave it a try. - [Sex, love and companionship … with AI? Why human-machine relationships could go mainstream]( Marco Dehnert, Arizona State University; Joris Van Ouytsel, Arizona State University Early research finds that people get just about the same gratification from sexting with a chatbot as they do with another human. - [Millions of Americans at risk of losing free preventive care after Texas ruling on ACA]( - [Don’t bet with ChatGPT – study shows language AIs often make irrational decisions]( - [Heteronormativity in health care is harmful for LGBTQ+ patients – and a source of tension for queer and trans doctors]( - [How the indictment of Donald Trump is a ‘strange and different’ event for America, according to political scientists]( - [Food forests are bringing shade and sustenance to US cities, one parcel of land at a time]( - [Each generation in Northern Ireland has reflected on the ‘troubles’ in its own way – right up to ‘Derry Girls’]( - [The FDA’s rule change requiring providers to inform women about breast density could lead to a flurry of questions]( The Conversation Quiz 🧠- Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( What term used frequently in this week's news made its first New York Times appearance in a 1994 story about tabloid lingo? - A. Frog march - B. Perp walk - C. Skip bail - D. Drag show [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [Instagram]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](